At a recent wedding, one of our couples included something we’d never seen before in our five years shooting weddings: a feet washing ceremony. We thought we’d explain what this ceremony is all about, its symbolism and include some tips for those of you planning to include one at your wedding!

The Feet Washing ceremony is a Christian-based tradition, which is representative of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-17, as a symbol of love and humility.

We did some research, and found this article that best explains why a couple might choose to have a foot washing ceremony during their wedding. According to that article from One Flesh Marriage,

Washing your spouse’s feet:

• Says I love you.
• Shows that you honor and respect your spouse.
• Demonstrates a humility of heart and character, kneeling before your spouse.
• Communicates “I will be here for you through the muck and mud of life”.
• Places you in a position of prayer (on your knees) a great place to be in marriage.

Having your feet washed:

• Says you are loved
• Shows you can receive your spouses support, and won’t “go it alone”
• Communicates, “I will let you help me”
• Places you in a position of power, which we need to remember we hold, so we don’t abuse it!*

* Source: One Flesh Marriage

Some tips for those of you planning to include a feet washing ceremony at your wedding:

• Be sure to include it in your timeline. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, so, factor that into your ceremony time.
• Have water, a basin and a chair set up.
• Have a towel ready, to dry off before putting your shoes back on.
• Get a pedicure before the wedding – yes grooms: this means you, too!

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